LSC’s “Talk Justice” Podcast Releases 100th Episode
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Carl Rauscher
Director of Communications and Media Relations
rauscherc@lsc.gov
202-295-1615
WASHINGTON– In celebration of its landmark 100th episode, Talk Justice hosts join in a special conversation about the most memorable guests, moments and lessons from the show. The episode, “100 Episodes of Talk Justice—What We've Learned So Far,” is hosted by LSC President Ron Flagg. Flagg is joined by current Talk Justice co-host Cat Moon and former co-host Jason Tashea. In addition to show highlights, they also consider the larger discourse around civil justice and building trust in the system.
A new media kit and resource page about the show is also now available online.
Talk Justice originally launched in August of 2020, and became a part of Legal Talk Network the following year. The show is supported by private funds from members of LSC’s Leaders Council. The podcast has brought together legal experts, technologists, business leaders, community organizers and government officials for thoughtful conversations about ending the access-to-justice crisis.
Tashea was a journalist at the ABA Journal who had long focused on criminal justice reform. He had recently stepped into the civil justice space when he was asked to host a new podcast for LSC in 2020. He stayed with the show until 2022. Tashea says it was a great opportunity to help LSC push important conversations to a broader audience, while also learning along the way.
“I was a newbie, which makes me potentially an odd choice to start this program, but I think a good one because I could stand in for the audience with my ignorance and ask a bunch of questions that maybe somebody more steeped in these topics wouldn’t have asked,” says Tashea.
Tashea says that one of his favorite episodes is “The Argument from the Right for Civil Legal Aid,” which included House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-6) as one of its guests.
Other government officials featured on Talk Justice include former Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5), former Rep. Susan Brooks (IN-5), former Rep. Joe Kennedy (MA-4), former White House Senior Advisor Gene Sperling, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Anne McKeig, former Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, former Michigan Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack and attorneys general from four states and the District of Columbia. Notable guests from other areas include author John Grisham, Los Angeles Chargers Coach Jim Harbaugh and Merck Executive Chairman Kenneth C. Frazier.
Moon, who is professor of the practice and co-director of the Program on Law and Innovation at Vanderbilt University Law School, joined Talk Justice as a co-host in December 2022. Moon says she has been inspired by the “scrappy” ingenuity of the access-to-justice tech community, and she expresses admiration for its collaborative spirit.
“In law generally, there's this competitive nature—especially in the for-profit law firm space, folks don't often really share fully what they're doing,” Moon says. “That competitiveness element just does not exist in the access-to-justice space, and I think that gives people here this freedom and openness to really share what they're doing [and] to invite others in to learn from them.”
“Talk Justice gives us this amazing platform for that sharing to happen, and I just think it's so important,” Moon continues.
Artificial intelligence for access to justice is a popular topic explored by the show. Episodes like “Putting AI to the Test for Legal Services” and “Results from the First Field Study of AI for Legal Aid” contain thoughtful consideration of the opportunities and challenges that AI presents in this field.
Talk Justice has shed light on many important topics like the impact consumer and medical debt has on courts and litigants, ways to support veterans with substance use disorders, and the benefits and drawbacks of remote court. The show also highlights the critical work of LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations across the country as they tackle issues like disaster recovery, domestic violence, neighborhood blight, the opioid epidemic and more.
“Highlighting our grantees is [my] favorite thing I get to do on the show,” says Flagg. “I view our grantees as heroes—they're often first, or at least second responders in case of disasters, and their work is so impactful to the communities and clients they serve.”
Flagg has been hosting the show alongside Tashea, Moon and another recently added co-host Lee Rawles of the ABA Journal, since the beginning. He shouted-out two examples of episodes highlighting LSC-funded legal aid organizations: “How Collaboration Powers Legal Aid’s Hurricane Response” and “Lawyers Can Help Revitalize Neighborhoods.”
Talk Justice episodes are available online and on Spotify, YouTube, Apple and other popular podcast apps.